Hello fanfiction, guess which story is back! Thank you for every single review, favorite and follow. they mean the world to me and make my day so much brighter no joke i have huge smiles when I read someone favorited or followed me or left me a review.
a very, very special and long overdo thank you for sonicelite: haha let's find out who they are huh? sorry for the long wait. I am really glad you enjoyed the backstory and it was not too bad of a tearjerk. i am very honored to hear that. hope you enjoy the story.
Finn- I am glad you liked it.
Godlegend- as much as you don't like them, you do need a reason to hate side characters. here's more!
Lupus- whoops sorry! hope this one doesn't distract you too much.
author smimph- haha yep it wasn't going to be a huge mystery. huh really? good to know. mutli-bear is getting work. i guess we shall what role Marco will play.
anoymins; i am happy you are proud of your child. he means well even if he doesn't like legal work.
CLM88: I hope you enjoy the rest of it when you get to it!
Miss p- haha we have a lot of problems and crushes but chris pratt is pretty awesome guy. i think so anyway. as tempting as that way, i'll save that for nova haha im glad you enjoyed it.
random human- sorry it took so long i am glad you enjoyed my stories despite the break into between. i don't mean too but life.
smitty theories- i know right.
Before i let you loose in the story, i wanted to explain why this took so long. People that read starco academy know the story but here it is. Around February, after i updated this story, i suffered a great personal loss and unfortunately for both stories, i happened to be working on Starco academy a bit but largely on Guardians when i found out. I'm good everything is great and im coping excellently but every time i came back to this story, i just couldn't finish it. the story felt like it was fighting me but in reality it was me. But here it is and i hope you still enjoy it.
Last when i left you, Marco and Star met Melody Marco's little girl and her story and now the pair is trying to lose a pair of men tracking them down. enjoy! i own nothing thank you for being patient.
Marco had a casual, almost bored look as the pair waltzed down the busy streets, very much like the picture perfect couple in love as they cruised through the occupied sounds of life surrounding them.
Or at least Marco did, maintaining a low yet perfectly natural profile was the bread and butter of his work. After all, if you can spot a thief in a crowd, chances are you were staring at a dead one.
Star, on the other hand, clearly had no such experience, her eyes glancing fearful stares to every and anyone that crossed their path, her arm tensed around Marco's, her nervous chewing on her lips obviously an age old habit.
He had no idea where the confident assassin he previously squared off against days before had gone but as much as he preferred this adorably shy normal girl, he reeeeally needed the sexy...er confident assassin to come back into play.
"So..." Marco said nonchalantly as he held on tight to Star who felt like she was about to speed away with the quickest possible haste "Since you clearly cannot act to save your life, what do you do?"
Star glared at the calm, tranquil face that was Marco Diaz. Seriously, how could he be so relaxed with the knowledge that they were being tracked down by two people that knew who they were?
"I'll have you know I act very well." Star pouted, roughly smacking Marco's arm who quickly let out a playful laugh "I act like I like you, don't I?"
"You do like me sweetheart" Marco replied with a grin "You're just lying to yourself."
Star tried to suppress the flush from appearing on her face, the silent chant that Marco could not be trusted rattling loudly in her mind.
"So" Star coughed loudly, clearing her throat as a distraction "What do you mean what do I do?"
"What is your job in this big bad galaxy? What is your role in the fabric of the chaotic quilt that is the criminal underground?" Star shook her head at Marco's mock refined upper class accent.
" I'm hired muscle." Star told Marco, her heart finally returning to a slow pace "Someone needs something, they send me to go get it."
"I figured though judging by your skill, you must a bit higher on the totem pole" Marco nodded thoughtfully "you seem more like the break down the door rather than lie your way in type. You don't like pretending to be someone else huh?"
Star stayed quiet, unwilling to give Marco the satisfaction of how correct he was.
"That's okay" Marco pressed on through Star's silence "Some people just don't like lying. I get it. Not everyone wants to be someone else"
"And you Marco?" Star rudely shot back, eyes narrowing with suspicion "Like being other people?"
Marco's shrug may have appeared to be laid back but Star keenly felt a wave of sorrow and shame as Marco replied "I'd rather be anyone else but me."
Star shifted guiltily, recalling Marco's sadness when Melody accidentally brought up his ex Jackie, the lost, confused and hurt look was rather depressing to see on the happy go luck thief.
"Well." Marco went on, knocking Star out of her thoughts "It looks like they're not giving up. Really keeping a good eye on us."
Star twisted her head to glance around, hoping to catch sight of their pursuers when Marco jerked her forward, catching her with his free arm as she nearly tripped face first onto the floor.
"Honey, are you okay?" Marco asked, supplying a concerned and worried edge to his voice as he steadied Star back to her feet "You need to be more careful."
Star nodded, blushing at the wandering eyes in the crowd that fell upon her "Y-Yes sw...sweetie. I'm fine."
Marco let out a sigh of relief, quickly guiding the two back on their path before angrily whispering "Do not look around, do you want them to know we know they're following us?"
Star opened her mouth to reply when she realized he had a point. If she started trying to look around for their stalkers, they would be tipped off they had been made and rather being in the known position of trailing after the pair, they would slink away and try to ambush Marco and her somewhere less crowded. This way Marco and Star had the drop on them rather than the other way around.
"Sorry..." Star struggled to get out, the word tasting almost as bad as the sweetie she called Marco by "I'm not used to these cloak and dagger tactics."
"I know" Marco answered apologetically, giving Star a reassuring squeeze that made her heart beat wildly "But since I'm currently unarmed and I really don't want Marco Diaz to get in trouble while on Eden, I'm trying not to make a scene in such a highly public place."
Star remembered that Marco Diaz was considered to be the law abiding citizen to his rascally, criminal brother Julio, both in actuality Marco whom had forged his papers as a pair of twins. All so he could allow his daughter a chance at a crime free life.
Star didn't know what to make of Marco's nobility, the kind, selfless deed he did to offer a poor girl down on her luck a second chance at having a proper future. Part of her wondered if he was thinking of retirement, planning on coasting on Melody's future success to live a care free, simple life. Another assumed Melody was a part of a con, stolen away early on and raised to be Marco's inside man in some big, fancy company. But a quieter, hopeful recess of her mind believed Marco really just wanted Melody to have a life free of the danger and trials he possessed, to truly know a peace he could never hope to achieve. Maybe Marco wanted Melody to prepared for when he died, to be self sufficient without her father and his dirty money, to be a better person than himself.
"So you're not packing?" Star questioned, resisting the urge to turn her head backwards and find their pursuers once more.
"Of course not' Marco waved her inquiry off "Marco Diaz cannot be found with any sort of weapon. I don't need people digging too deeply into my background. How about you? Got your insanely destructive wand thingy?"
Star scoffed loudly "You do not refer to the ancient and all powerful wand of Mewni as a thingy!"
Marco let out a dejected sigh "So that's a no. Seriously you didn't bring it? I mean it looks like a toy so no one would think twice at a pretty girl like you holding it. Did you really think so lowly of me that you thought I would risk our newly acquired freedom on a booty call? Which by the way..." Marco shuddered in disgust to drive home his point.
Star flushed uncontrollably against her will, unsure why the idea of Marco on any sort of date bothered her so. He wasn't anything to her except a forced partner she sooner be rid of than associated with. Though granted there was a surprising amount of depth and sadness to him than she originally thought, that in no way made up for the fact that she was wrongly imprisoned because he took the Starco to the wrong place.
"Well" Marco pursed his lips thoughtfully, catching Star's eye and causing her to feel a bit faint when it curved into an unexpected smile "I suppose we're going to have to lure them into some less well viewed area and beat the crap out of them, learn what they know. Since I know you can fight with the wand, any chance you know some unarmed combat?"
"Of course! I am a galaxy class ass kicker!" Star answered excitedly, adorably punching and kicking the air with great enthusiasm, freeing herself from Marco for a moment to showcase her great butt kicking skills.
Marco couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping his throat as the sun shined brightly on his blonde companion. Seriously there is no way this deadly, well trained assassin-like lady could be both terrifying and cute at the same time.
Marco allowed Star to show off, who unknowingly drew a sizable crowd who took in the sight of the beautiful young woman performing deadly yet equally impressive fighting forms.
Marco took a step back, disappearing into the sea of people while glancing carefully towards the reflective window showcasing the little store the paired stopped in front of. While it was not the best way to keep track of anyone, if there was one thing you could count on was the Federation's need for everything to appear the pinnacle of perfection.
Polish lifeless cities for polish lifeless people.
Marco took in the sight of the pursers across the street, two nondescript men wearing brand new, crisp business suits, just two random people who met up by chance and deciding to catch up with one another. Nothing remotely suspicious to the untrained eye. But unfortunately for Marco, he did not have the luxury of ignorance. They stopped when Star drew a crowd and they seemed to have an abnormally tame conversation for two long lost friends who 'accidentally' just ran into each other. No laughing, no jokes at good times or even affection hugs. Basic talk through and through.
The thugs didn't look too tough but Marco knew first hand that the biggest threat was the one you assumed wasn't. At the very minimum they were armed with some sort of weapon. If they were tailing the two that meant they must have something to close the gap, probably a firearm or long range stunner. Clearly a team duo, probably arrived in two different rides as not to arouse suspicion.
Marco bit his lip thoughtfully, casually glancing around while Star's cute antics enamored the crowd's attention.
Marco had nothing to fight with and hand to hand combat wasn't exactly his forte but it was Star's. He needed to close the distance between the pursers and the those that were being pursed. Guns up close were more of a liability than a help but they were still on Eden, any sort of fighting in public would only draw the wrong type of attention and Marco could not afford to be arrested with his real I.D. It was time to reverse the trap.
Marco let out a loud yawn, stretching his arms out as far as he could, his hand lightly hovering over the collar of a nearby citizen, silently muttering apologizes to unsuspecting man.
Without warning, the man found himself cutting through the crowd, stumbling on his feet as he knocked over a nearby food cart that began sailing towards the shop's display window, crashing into it at full speed and shattering the thick laser proof glass and breaking the merchandise that was on display.
Predictably, the crowd scattered, frightened and confused at the sudden disturbance. While some remain behind to help calm people down and help the man up, Marco and Star were already darting down a nearby alleyway, Star's hand clasped firmly in Marco's.
"Why are we running?!" Star shouted as Marco continued to lead the pair in a straight line "This is our chance to lose them!"
"You've never been hunted before huh?" Marco rolled his eyes mockingly "They know what we look like. They're going to be looking for us. This is our chance to find out everyone we can about who is pointing them in our direction! And I don't know about you but I like to know which crime lord I'm trying to lose."
Star opened her mouth to retort before realizing he was right. There could be any number of people looking for them (Though she was pretty sure she was the one they were searching for.) and it was much easier to stay out of their backyard when you knew whose backyard you were trying to stay out of.
Star decided it was better not to say anything. No need to give Marco a big head.
Marco gave her a cheeky smile, a knowing twinkle in his eye cluing Star in that he knew he was right and he was totally going to boast about it later.
Marco rounded the corner at full speed only be shoved backwards, tripping over his own feet and momentum, dragging the helpless Star alongside him as the far wall stopped the pair, trapping them at the mercy of another pair of burly, nondescript men in suits holding two menacing laser pistols in their hands
"UGH" Marco groaned loudly, smacking his hand against his forehead "The second team! There's always a second team! Stupid Marco."
Star stared deadpanned at her forced partner in crime "Agreed, you are stupid."
"Stay still and no one gets hurt" The taller of the two thugs muttered quietly, keeping his weapon trained on Star.
"Hey that's great!" Marco replied cheerfully "I love not moving, it's like the best part of living, am I right?"
"Shut it" the other, shorter man barked angrily "Now princess, don't try anything funny."
"Whatever you say"
The two thugs stared at him in confusion, unsure why he had responded to their address to the princess.
It slowly dawned on Marco that they were not referring to him in some mocking jest.
Marco turned slowly to the deathly quiet Star who simply stood there, unmoving and facing the ground shamefully.
"Princess?" Marco asked quizzically "Princess of what?"
"That is none of your concern" The taller thug muttered "Identification card. NOW!"
"Surely this has been some sort of mix up, I..."
Marco gulped as the goon shoved his loaded weapon directly into his face, cocking back on the safety and letting the low hum of energy build up fill the alley.
"I.D NOW!"
"Okay okay, geesh. Agress much?" Marco whined as he slowly took out his wallet, gingerly handing it to them in case they mistook any sudden movement as an attack.
The shorter thug peered thoughtfully at the picture, glancing back and forth between image Marco and real Marco in an attempt to properly identify him.
Marco made a silent prayer that they didn't realize he was the one that botched the deal for the Starco even if it was totally not his FAULT! IT IS NOT HIS FAULT THAT QUALITY CONTROL WAS SO BAD THAT...
"here" The shorter thug viciously shoved Marco's wallet back into his hands "You seem to to be upstanding gent, what's say you walk that way and pretend you didn't see anything?"
Marco blinked, unsure if he was actually hearing what he thought he was hearing. Where they really letting him go? Just like that? No questions about how he looked like the thief that lost the Starco or escaped the wrath of the Black Flare criminal empire back at the Federation prison.
For a brief moment Marco was concerned they were simply going to gun him in the back when he turned to leave but he noticed they were oddly focused on Star, watching her every move like they knew what she was capable of and were more weary of her than him.
A bit insulting but comforting at the same time.
"Hey!" The taller thug snarled "What did he tell you? Go back home and forget you ever saw us."
Marco shot a sideways glance to Star. Her fingers were curled tensely and the bit of blue pupil he could see was filled with fear and pleading. Not to leave her alone, not to go away and not to forget about her.
"Sure" Marco let in the real nervousness he felt into his voice "Sure buddies, I'll get out of your way no problem!"
Marco carefully made his way past the two thugs, apologizing while avoiding eye contact with either of them and Star as he turned the corner, his echoing footsteps becoming softer and softer before disappearing into the hustle and bustle of the city.
"I knew it...I know he'd leave me..." Star muttered under her breath, hands raised in surrender as the divided attention from the goons become fully concentrated on her.
"Your father is very disappointed in you" The taller henchman shook his head in dissatisfaction "Very disappointed you decided not to go back home and instead made a pit stop on some dirt in the hole planet."
Star shrugged "Well I wanted to bring him an early father's day gift, heard he liked small, orbish things."
"Lose the sarcastic attitude, you are a lot of trouble and Toffee isn't going to be easing up on your punishment just because you're his daughter. Boss of one of the biggest organizations got to set an example. Especially from family."
Star's face was passive as her stomach churned uneasily at the thought of one of her father's punishment. Toffee was very big on loyalty and obedience and she had seen first hand what he had done to those that lacked in either subject. The horrors he inflicted on others. One of the many reasons she was trying to escape his grasp.
"Look, we're sorry princess." The smaller thug grumbled apologetically "We are just doing our job. Just make this easy on yourself and it won't be so bad."
Star scoffed, eying their guns carefully as the taller thug fished out a pair of handcuffs to place on her wrists.
"No fighting princess, don't make this..."
Star lashed out, her foot sweeping the shorter thug off his feet before she tossed herself towards the taller foe, driving her knee into his stomach and violently shoving him to the wall.
The taller thug lost the cuffs in the scuffle but still held onto his gun, raising it up and taking aim.
Star ducked under the stun flash, its paralyzing effects absorbed harmlessly into the far wall.
Star lunged at the thug, catching his midsection before driving him back with a flurry of punches to his stomach.
The taller thug groaned in pain before pushing Star away, firing another stunner bolt when she backed far enough.
Star tucked into a roll, kicking his midsection once more and sending him stumbling, forcing him to lean against the wall but before Star could follow up, she had to take cover behind some trash cans when he began unleashing a stream of stunners in every direction.
"HEY GET OFF!"
Star and the tall thug turned to see the forgotten shorter thug's arms flailing wildly, stunner after stunner shot skyward as Marco buckled on his back, his arms wrapped around the shorter man's neck as he put the man to sleep.
Star beamed inwardly, grateful Marco had not abandoned her like she thought though she ignored the small skip of her heart upon realizing this.
Star rolled out of cover, rising to her feet and trying to finish the distracted tall thug off once and for all.
The short thug howled furiously, striking Marco's knee. Marco's hold on the goon weakened but before he could recover, the short man had already smashed his fist against his belt.
There was powerful surge of energy and sound as Star and Marco were knocked off their feet, sent skidding across the ground uncontrollably.
Star moaned, weakly trying to rise to her feet but whatever the shorter man had used was making her sick and dizzy.
"Here, your hero." The tall man sneered, dumping the unconscious body of Marco in front of her.
Marco groaned in pain, slowly regaining conscious after smacking his head into the wall, his memory what happened completely wiped from his mind.
Star tried to steady her breath, angry at herself for believing these two men could be defeated so easily. If they were sent to track her down, there was no doubt they were decked with gear designed to incapacitate and docile her. After all, if they were personally sent on a mission from her father, that only meant they were very dangerous professionals.
The short man pressed his pistol against Marco's head, making a grand show about switching the setting from stun to lethal while his partner in crime whispered something into his sleeve.
"Alright" The tall man patted the short man's shoulder approvingly "The other team's on the way. Get rid of the spare and let's get going."
"No!" Star cried, trying to reach for the barrel of the gun but finding her body still much too heavy to move very far, let alone fight back and protect Marco.
"Sorry princess" The tall thug motioned to his ears "Sonic disruption. Affects the ears sense of balance, makes everything so heavy and just tiring. Couple that with mag boots and between the shockwave and very, very bad for you sound, you got one crippling attack for the unprepared. Always wear earplugs, first rule of the job. Now excuse, my buddy here has to take care of the body."
Star paled, thoughts coming back to Melody who had no idea that she was never going to see her father again. Star may not be a fan of Marco but even she could not deny how cruel it could be for a daughter to lose her true father.
"Nighty, night hero" The short goon smirked, finger slowly descending on the trigger.
"I am Fergroot!"
The two thugs whirled around in time to see a thick, bendy wood colored thing slam into the shorter goon at full speed, sending him sprawling to the floor before the thing whirled around and collided against the tall man's chest, sending him smashing into the far wall like Marco before him.
Star glanced upwards to see a towering figure block the sun for a moment, some small furry thing scurrying over its body like some sort of animal.
"Er I think you killed them Ferguson" A scrawny, whiny voice told the larger figure as he scampered to the ground.
"I am Fergroot."
"I...I don't think that was light at all."
Star couldn't believe her eyes as the two came forward, two of the most unlikely saviors anyone could ask for.
The taller of the two was a larger talking...well tree. With thick branch limbs, random leaves spouting across his body, a pudgy friendly face with an unusual orange mop of 'hair' on his...skull?
The talking, smaller companion was a small, racoonish squirrel like creature with puffed out and fluffy fur, a pair of glasses in front of his eyes with strange armor and a very menacing looking rifle on his back.
Star struggled to move but the effects of the sonic attack were slow in wearing off. She could feel her body lighten with each passing second but until then, she was at the complete mercy of the small fuzzball and his talking tree.
The Raccoon Squirrel thing approached Marco, sniffing the air around him while poking his still sleeping form. Then, without warning, roughly gripped his hair and lifted his face for a better look, taking a moment to scan his facial expression with his hand held device.
"This might be him Ferg, fits the profile! Heard he has a twin so we'll just have to make sure. Tag him and bag him."
"Hey!" Star cried out, glaring at the little creature "Who do you think you are? That is my friend and he is a law abiding citizen."
"I'm Alfonzo and you say law abiding citizen, I say wanted bail jumper." The meekness was gone when the creature talked business, his claws hovering over his rifle in a threatening manner.
Before either party could react, the two nondescript suits that trailed Star and Marco barreled into the alleyway, not packing peashooters like their fallen comrades but rather some nasty looking armament that looked like it could shred a room in seconds.
Marco groggily moaned, rubbing his eyes tiredly as his body strained to move even an inch.
"What happened?" Marco smacked his dry lips "Why is it ever since I met you, I keep blacking out?"
"We have more several problems." Star replied calmly, eyes flickering between the two parties.
Marco glanced upwards to see the raccoon squirrel Alfonzo drawing his rifle, his talking tree partner looming over everyone, flexing his...bark in a threateningly manner.
Marco glanced backwards to find the two suits that were trailing them from before locked and ready to go to war.
"Great how can this get worse?"
There was a loud whine of rocket boosters filling the air, a female voice letting pleads of safety and an excited exhilaration in between the panicked cries of "oh god help me"
A figure landed near the occupants of the alley with a loud thud, landing on a single knee, hand planted firmly in the ground in what is commonly known as a superhero landing.
The girl rose to full height and Marco bit back a curse at her uniform. Blue jumpsuit with heavily armored arm, legs and chest plate with the iconic and rather stupid looking gold helm with red tri-horn tips reaching upward, the reflective visor protecting the girls eyes from view but not her mouth.
"Nova Corp Patrol Officer Janna reporting for duty. I have reports of misconduct and public bounty hunting. Now whose coming quietly and whose ass do I need to kick?"
Marco placed his forehead against the wet, slimy, muttering to himself "I can't believe I'm going back to jail."